Ticketmaster's Acquisition of Paciolan to Face Federal Review

Tue, Jul 3rd 2007 3:50 pm EDT

By Alfred Branch, Jr.

Ticketmaster announced Monday it was buying ticketing software company Paciolan for an undisclosed amount, but not before federal regulators review the deal to see if it violates any anti-trust issues.

Either the Federal Trade Commission or the Anti-Trust Division of the Department of Justice will handle the investigation over the next 30 days.

"It needs to be reviewed by either the FTC or the Department of Justice’s anti-trust division, but not both," said Mitch Katz, a public affairs officer for the FTC, adding that he was speaking in general about acquisitions, not the Ticketmaster/Paciolan deal specifically. The anti-trust review is necessary because under law any business transaction that affects consumers and is valued at more than $59.6 million require approval from either agency.

During the review process, the agency can sign off on it in less than 30 days, or let the 30-day period expire, in either case the acquisition would be allowed. In the event there are questions concerning the deal, the agency can request more information, which would extend the 30-day review period. After that, the agency can close the case, which means it’s approved, or require a business to sell any overlapping assets before the deal is approved. Finally, the agency could sue to block the acquisition, similar to the FTC’s lawsuit to stop the Whole Foods Market’s acquisition of rival Wild Oats Markets.

The Department of Justice did not return a phone call seeking comment. Bonnie Poindexter, spokesperson for Ticketmaster, declined to comment beyond Monday’s official announcement of the deal.

Founded in 1980, the privately held Paciolan has 190 North American clients, including several college and professional sports teams, and venues. Its selling shareholders include venture capital groups Technology Crossover Ventures, Argentum Capital Partners, Comcast Spectacor and Marwit Capital Co.

Sean Moriarty, President and CEO, Ticketmaster said in a prepared statement the company was impressed by Paciolan’s success at providing ticketing software to so many clients over its 27-year history. “This transaction is about giving clients full access to the wide spectrum of solutions and services that both companies offer. Dave Butler and his team are true professionals who are dedicated to providing the best service possible to their clients. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome this talented team to the Ticketmaster family.”

If the deal is approved, Ticketmaster plans to marry Paciolan’s current products with Ticketmaster’s online TicketFast, TicketAuctions, TicketExchange and VIP packages, according to the company.

Below is the full list of Paciolan’s clients in alphabetical order:
Adams Center
Alley Theatre
American Conservatory Theatre
American Museum of Natural History
American Musical Theatre of San Jose
Andy Warhol Museum
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Sports Foundation/Fiesta Bowl
Arizona State Parks/Kartchner Caverns
Arizona State University
Arizona Theatre Company
Arts Center for Coastal Carolina
Auburn University
Bass Performance Hall
Baylor University
Bishop Museum
Bob Hope Theatre
Borgata Casino
Boston College
Bowling Green State University
Breslin Center
Brigham Young University
Brooklyn Cyclones
Budweiser Events Center
Buffalo Zoo
California State University, Long Beach
Canadian Opera Company
Capital Tickets
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Carnegie Science Center
Carpenter Center
Casper Events Center
CCO Entertainment LLC (Sears Centre)
Centre In The Square / Kitchner Auditorium
Children's Musical Theatre San Jose
Cincinnati Arts
Cincinnati Ballet
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Clemson University
Cleveland Play House
Coast Casinos
Colonial Center
Colorado Rockies
Colorado State University
Comcast-Spectacor
Denver Center for Performing Arts
Dodge Arena
Dover International Speedway
Duke University
East Carolina University
Erwin Center
Everett Events Center
Festival of Arts
Field Museum of Natural History
Florida State University
Fox Theatre - St. Louis
Franklin Institute
Fresno State University
Gateway International Raceway
Georgia Tech
Global Spectrum
Graceland Division of Elvis Presley Ent., Inc.
Halifax Metro Centre
Henry Ford Museum
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Idaho State University
Illinois State University
Independence Seaport Museum
Iowa Events Center
Iowa State University
James Madison University
John Labatt Centre
Kansas City Starlight Theatre
Kansas State University
Krannert Center for Performing Arts
Liacouras Center
Living Arts Centre in Mississauga
Louisiana State University
Marshall University
Maryland Center for Performing Arts
Mashantucket Pequot Museum
Massey Hall
Memphis Motorsports Park
Metro Tix
Michigan State University
Minnesota Historical Society
Mississauga Living Arts Center
Mississippi State University
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Mystic Seaport Museum
Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts
Nashville Superspeedway
National Aquarium In Baltimore
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
New Era Tickets
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
New York Mets
Nortel Networks
North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
North Carolina State University
North Shore Music Theatre
Northwestern University
Notre Dame
The Ohio State University
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Onieda Casino
Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal
Oregon State University
Orleans Arena
Ottawa Senators
Overture Center for the Arts
Pacific Film Archive
Pacific Science Center
Paper Mill Playhouse
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Zoo
Portland Trailblazers
Purdue University
Qwest Arena
Red & White Fleet
Resch Arena
Rice University
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Rockford Metro Centre
Rose Quarter
Roy Thompson Hall
Rushmore Civic Center Plaza
Rutgers University
San Diego Padres
San Diego State University
Save-On Foods Centre
Science City
Science Museum of Minnesota
Scotiabank Place
Sears Centre
SmithsTix
South Dakota State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southern Methodist University
Sovereign Bank Arena
Stanford University
Stockton Tickets
Strong Museum
Ted Constant Convocation Center
Texas Christian University
Texas Tech University
The Colisee
The Muny
Theatre Under The Stars
Thomas & Mack Center
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Turnstyles Ticketing
U. S. Air Force Academy
U.S. Military Academy
U.S. Naval Academy
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis - Mondavi Center
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado
University of Colorado - Performing Arts
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of Georgia
University of Hawaii
University of Houston
University of Illinois
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Maryland
University of Memphis
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri
University of Montana
University of Nebraska
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Tennessee
University of Texas
University of Tulsa
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin, Madison
University of Wyoming
UNLVtickets
US Cellular Coliseum
Utah State University
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Virginia Aquarium
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
Wachovia Centre
Wake Forest University
Washington State
Wegmans Food Markets
West Virginia University
Western Kentucky University
Western Michigan University Athletics
Whittemore Center Arena
Wichita State University